Blue Sky

After a long winter of quiet, I'm very pleased to hear the first soothing notes of a mountain blue bird. If you haven't seen one, they are the bluest of blues. Perfect match for our skies. The skwala stone flies have emerged, and are all over the shore rocks. Blue birds often feed on the wing, but the skwalas are a serious meal and worth a foot chase on the ground. Standing in the water floating my skwala dry fly to a gulping fish, I watch the enthusiasm of a blue bird from two feet away. The skwalas must taste good. I counted about 15 consumed in 15 minutes. Just the snack for a bird that flew many miles to nest near this stream. One day the area seems almost devoid of birds. The next, all my feathered friends have returned. Robins, Stellar Jays, Pygmy Nut hatches, Nut hatches, Flickers, and Alder gnatcatchers too. Funny how the weather improves, bugs reappear, and, suddenly there are birds. Every winter, I hang with American Dippers. They are one of the few birds that remain to keep us company fishing all winter. Now they're acting amorous, and playing tag. Even though they mate for life, every spring I watch them reestablish the pair bond. It takes three to tango in a dipper's world. Another male hangs around flirting and posturing and singing. This makes the mated male crazy with "jealousy"? Soon the pair will make a nest in a frothy section of the river. Spray drenched babies will grow to become my neighbors. Wading for fish, I will peak in to see how things go for them. This seasonal change of players announces that fishing season has also begun. The water warms, fish feel better moving to food, and I feel better asking them play.

A guides universe.

I live life on the water, and meet people. All sorts and types.
Many connected to me by fishing. They have diverse styles, chase different fish species, in many locations, and kinds of weather.
A few become friends and stay in touch.
Add to that, a few guide buddies, current clients and fishing companions.
It amounts to a fair number of fishing reports.
As a fisherman/guide this is very useful. I need to know.
No matter how busy I stay, I'm challenged to cover all the water that's in this area, year-round.
There are miles of water to stand in.
The bugs in the river are on different pages in different places.
Elevations, flows, higher pressure spots, and the paths less traveled, this is very important information. I, in turn, share my findings with others. That's how the universe works.
The thing is... the best part for me, is hearing all the stories.
Some of these folks know a few fish by name. Literally.
Many, many tales of repeat attempts on tough fish.
Most of the time, big fish do not come along quietly.
Fish have the home field advantage, and the element of surprise the first time.
After that, it takes practice to work out details of a drift, or fly choice, or different approaches to the fish' lie.
There are technical issues that have to be addressed, and failures to recover from.
But often, when it works, fishermen call me to share.
These are diligent, and talented fishermen, who are setting the bar high, then getting over it.
I give them kudos for perseverance, and problem solving, and an ear for sad stories.
They give me support and reassurance when I talk fish with them too.
Many of us fish alone. No one to witness the epic battles when our strategy does work out.
Perhaps they have no one else in their lives that understands just how difficult this self imposed task really is, or our seemingly obsessive behavior, and repeated disappointments.
The guides universe is a kind of organically grown fish support group/ information service.
We provide therapy for the fish challenged, and tribal respect for individual picean victories. We look out for our own. Tell a bunch of fish stories too!

Spring will come!

Well it's happened, spring has arrived! Right along with the time change too!
I figure I lose an hour of fishing, every time they do that.
Don't mind losing sleep, but less fishing?
The river is close to muddy, with just a hint of deep green.
Snowed like crazy last night, in the classic sierra cement style.
The rain/slush made driving sketchy, and closed I-80 this morning.
Winter is battling back, but I have faith it will be warm again someday.
Saw a couple of feisty Rainbows earlier this week, both showing signs of spawn color.
It has been a great early season, fishing small flies over big fish.
But now, I'm ready for spring.
Searching about for any sign of spring, I'll submit that a Skwala stonefly hatch is a serious one.
Saw them near Glenshire this week, molting, and running around on the snow.
Then they do their seemingly suicidal stroll out onto the surface tension in the shallows.
The females ovi-positing send out little rings that call to trout, saying "Eeaatt mmeee!
This time last year the stream ran clear, and we caught BIG browns with Skwala dry flies.
Not so this year, we will have muddy flows. So it goes.
With the influx of new bugs, I'm seeing more birds everyday.
How do they know? They are making an important bet, that they can't afford to lose.
That kind of commitment helps me believe spring will return.
Watched some Ravens cavorting today, barrel-rolls and playing grab-foot.
Looked like breeding behavior to me. Fun/sexy/risky.
They seem to start that stuff before everybody else.
My theory, is that they feed their chicks, the chicks of others.
So they need a little head-start.
In life, timing is everything, and you have to work all the angles.
On that note, there is a happy hour nearby that I shouldn't miss.
Got a client there last week.
While getting my one meal a day, and frosty beverage at a discount.....
Speaking of angles.

My welcome back!

After a three month hiatus, I finally got back on the water.
Pulled onto E-line st. on the Owens River in Bishop.
Talked for a while, with a spin guy who'd gotten blanked.
His wife pulled up and summoned him. So... all the water was mine.
Although my shakes had been in an advanced state, just being on the water was very soothing.
I was taking in the cute fish rises, when a bigger guy rose to something.
In a fraction of a second (or less) I was sprinting to the truck.
Shaking and panting, I pulled out a rod still rigged with a fly from three months before.
I made a couple casts up on the road to warm up, then boogied down to the water.
Walked through the tules, to a notch in them.
I made a beautiful cast (amazing, considering the time off), and started my 1st drift with a little white may.
Sure enough, he ate it!
In the near darkness, I couldn't see how big he was.
Still....even stout and stubborn, he couldn't resist my pull.
He slid into the little notch in the bank a couple minutes later.
It was then, I suddenly realized that I didn't have waders on, or a net either. Ooooops......
At that precise moment, he felt the hesitation, and made his move.
A quick button hook pattern through the reeds, and the jump to warp speed and safety.
Game over!!!
I'd call it a draw.
I didn't cast again due to darkness, and the law.
What a welcome back.
Not a bad way to start the season though.

Hello-serious jonesing

My apologies all, three months without a post?
My oldest fishing buddy passed.
Dad made it to 85, or close enough.
This entailed a major fix-up/sale rally on the house, and an extended stay in a deserty zone north of LA.
I haven't seen moving water for the whole time.
Been having fish dreams at night. Stopped a couple times next to a flood catchment basin to see if something might rise. A basin fish maybe?
I'm not sure I could withstand a jones much stronger than I'm experiencing right now.
Serious shakes, that will be addressed as soon as I hit the year-round section of the Owens River.
The second phase of recovery will be to soak my bones in a hot spring!
Following that, I'll walk into hot creek, to see if fish are there.
Then the east walker for a spell.
Finally back to my home waters of the Truckee. Hope Walter is glad to see me.
Lots of thoughts to share about fishing, but I'll wait till I wet a line.
Hope you're all well.

Spreading the word.

I have seen many people, avoid even the mention of the term "fly fishing".
Literally, hold up their hand, and turn their head away.
Closing the subject before you can get started.
I don't blame them really.
Those that participate in this sport seem to speak in tongues.
Some vibrate with so much excitement, you worry whether your CPR skills are current.
Others spew Latin to the point, you wonder if English is their second language.
The occasion for water influenced philosophy/poetry seems to increase per capita as well.

After a few years, you learn not everyone is crazy about the subject.
You figure out when it's OK or not, to share the good word (FLYFISHING).
Here included are a few examples from my travels.

Generally, a dissertation on rise forms and their correlation to insect activity,
will not work as a pick-up line at a party.
If the guy checking, at the grocery store fishes, try to keep the conversation short to prevent bad PR in the lengthening line of shoppers behind you (especially if he's a steel-header).
Fly rod brand, loyalty oaths loudly stated, can cause a fight in the right/wrong company.
Always establish subtly, who owns what kind, and, how many there are of them.
Having a stated preference for a fly, or fly style can generate heat too.
For example, never suggest broadly in mixed company, that an indicator is the only way to fish.

Although I get out quite a bit, my shakes (somewhat lessened over time) can still flair up.
I have learned a few terms in the dead language, but only take them out for special occasions.
One can learn to choose an audience wisely.
If you notice the listeners eyes kind of glaze over, or eye lids slide to half mast, segue to the weather.
Of course if it's overcast, that could lead back to the epic Blue-wing-olive hatch that day.
Come to think of it, there is no safe topic, everything leads back to fly fishing.
But, don't think for a moment that this sport falls into the category of an obsession.
This activity is just incredibly broad, deep, as well as fun.
So, spread the word, just be careful who you tell .

Fish Ninja's

Sitting by a bush, watching fish the other day.
Slow movement out of the corner of my eye, caught my attention.
Creeping up the stream was a fish Ninja.
I could tell, because he was dressed like I was.
Camo hat, Olive shirt, darker waders, and a very low, stealthy approach.
He carried two rods held low, one rigged with a dry, the other rod rigged for nymphing.
Dropping one rod in a bush, he crawled towards the water.
He made a short cast, sidearm, and dropped his bobber into the foam seam and did a quick mend.
A nice fish immediately ate his offering, and he directed it downstream.
I laughed, and he saw me for the first time.
With a smile he nodded, and continued to school the fat rainbow he had on.
After the release, he waved and crept off through the bushes for the next one.

When you come here to fish, remember, there are people who spend a lot of time around here training fish. The fish dislike all the attention, and raise the bar on the entry level of fishers.
I constantly see people who wear a white shirt, and stroll up to the water, make a few ill considered false casts, and then splat something (not on the menu), on the head of a spooky fish.

If you burn to catch the best fish anyone has seen (or you've seen), you may consider improving the game you use.
When you hear 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, this is a big part of it.

Most importantly, don't let them see or hear you coming.
Next most important, get the drift, the first attempt. No flailing please.
The bugs have a scedule, the fish follow it, so should you.
Do some research, seine the water, turn over a couple of rocks, just sit and gaze into the air.
If you raise your game, fish stats will improve.
When you do land a fatty, get your hands wet first, before you handle them.
Leave them in the water, tell the fish how beautiful it is, how well it fought.
When they go to school next time, it just might put in a good word for you.
"That guy with the camo hat was cool."
Every little bit helps.